Lung Cancer Statistics

Solid statistics can provide a clearer understanding of lung cancer and its effects. In 2002, lung cancer accounted for more deaths in the United States than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined. Statistics from that same year indicate that 90,121 men and 67,509 women died from the disease. Other statistics on lung cancer show that the overall 5-year relative survival rate for the disease for 1995-2002 was 15 percent.

 

An Overview of Lung Cancer Statistics

More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. In 2002, lung cancer accounted for more deaths in the United States than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined. In that year:
 
  • 100,099 males and 80,163 females were diagnosed with lung cancer
  • 90,121 males and 67,509 females died from lung cancer.
     
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. Among women, lung cancer is the second most common cancer among Caucasian and American Indian/Alaska Native women and the third most common cancer among African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women.
 

Age at Diagnosis

From 1998 to 2003, the median age at lung cancer diagnosis was 70 years of age. The percentages of people diagnosed with lung cancer based on age were as follows:
 
  • 0.0 percent were diagnosed under age 20
  • 0.3 percent between 20 and 34
  • 2.1 percent between 35 and 44
  • 8.8 percent between 45 and 54
  • 21.1 percent between 55 and 64
  • 32.6 percent between 65 and 74
  • 28.2 percent between 75 and 84
  • 6.9 percent 85+ years of age.
     
(Lung Cancer Statistics Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD